The Latest: Afghan Immigrant Wanted For Questioning in Explosions Taken Into Custody

A view of a mangled construction toolbox, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, at the site of an explosion that occurred on Saturday night in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York. Numerous people were injured in the blast, and the motive, while reportedly not international terrorism, is still being investigated. (Justin Lane/EPA via AP, Pool)

A view of a mangled construction toolbox, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, at the site of an explosion that occurred on Saturday night in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York. Numerous people were injured in the blast, and the motive, while reportedly not international terrorism, is still being investigated. (Justin Lane/EPA via AP, Pool)

ELIZABETH, N.J. (AP) — The Latest on a suspicious device found near a train station in New Jersey (all times local):

1:10 p.m.

A law enforcement official says investigators regard Ahmad Khan Rahami as the “main guy” behind explosions in New York City and New Jersey but plan to look into whether any other associates had a role or knowledge.

The official says investigators are not seeing connection between the explosions and a separate stabbing attack at a mall in Minnesota. President Barack Obama likewise said earlier Monday that investigators see no connection between the bombings and the stabbings.

The official, who was not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation by name and spoke on condition of anonymity, also said Rahami was not believed to be on federal terror watch lists at the time of the explosions.

Rahami was arrested after a shootout with police Monday in Linden, New Jersey.

—Associated Press writer Eric Tucker in Washington contributed to this report.

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12:50 p.m.

Relatives of a man in custody after explosives were found in New York and New Jersey filed a federal lawsuit in 2011, claiming they and their family business were targeted because they are Muslims.

In the lawsuit, Mohammad Ruhami and two of his sons claimed that starting in July 2008, Elizabeth police and city officials improperly tried to restrict the their fast-food restaurant’s hours.

The lawsuit was terminated in 2012 after Mohammad Ruhami pleaded guilty to blocking police from enforcing the restriction. The city was fighting the claims.

Ahmad Khan Rahami, who was arrested after a shootout Monday in Linden, was not part of the lawsuit.

The family claimed that baseless citations were issued against them, spawned by complaints filed by residents who disliked them and made anti-Muslim comments to them.

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12:10 p.m.

Authorities say the man wanted for questioning about bombs found in New York and New Jersey was found sleeping in a bar hallway before his arrest.

Linden, New Jersey, Mayor Derek Armstead says the owner of a bar found the man sleeping in his hallway Monday morning. He says the man was initially presumed to be a vagrant, but police officers who responded quickly realized it was Ahmad Khan Rahami.

Armstead says the man pulled out a handgun and fired at the officers, hitting one in a bulletproof vest. The man then began firing as he ran down the street and police shot him in the leg. The man was conscious when he was taken away in an ambulance.

Linden police Capt. James Sarnicki says three police officers were taken to the hospital. One was hit by shrapnel and another had high blood pressure.

11:35 a.m.

A law enforcement official says the Afghan immigrant wanted in connection with explosions in New York City and New Jersey has been taken into custody following a shootout with police officers.

The official says two officers were shot in the encounter in Linden, New Jersey. The person wasn’t authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Authorities were looking for Ahmad Khan Rahami, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Afghanistan with an address in Elizabeth, New Jersey.

Elizabeth Mayor Christian Bollwage says county authorities told him that the officers shot in Linden are expected to be OK. He says one was struck in a protective vest and the other in the hand.

—Associated Press writer Eric Tucker in Washington contributed to this report.

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11 a.m.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says investigators have no reason to believe that there are further threats, but the public should “be on constant guard.”

Cuomo was at Manhattan’s Penn Station to thank state troopers and National Guard members for their work protecting the public during and after the New York City and New Jersey shore town bombings.

Cuomo says he spoke to President Barack Obama on Monday. He says the president also expressed appreciation for the work of first responders.

Authorities are seeking a man for questioning in both bombings.

He is 28-year-old Ahmad Khan Rahami, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Afghanistan. His last known address was in Elizabeth, New Jersey, where the FBI executed a search warrant on Monday morning.

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9:45 a.m.

Police have connected the New York City and New Jersey shore town bombings and say the same man is being sought for questioning in both.

New Jersey State Police say that information comes from the FBI.

Authorities are seeking 28-year-old Ahmad Khan Rahami, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Afghanistan. His last known address was in Elizabeth, New Jersey, where the FBI executed a search warrant on Monday morning.

An explosion in Manhattan on Saturday injured 29 people. A pipe bomb also exploded Saturday in Seaside Park ahead of the race for Marines and sailors, but no one was injured.

The apartment search began after one of five devices found at the nearby Elizabeth train station exploded while a bomb squad robot attempted to disarm it. No one was injured.

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9:05 a.m.

The White House says President Barack Obama was briefed throughout the night and early Monday on the investigation into bombs found in New York City and New Jersey.

Spokesman Josh Earnest says the White House is following the situation closely. He says Obama will comment publicly “relatively soon.”

He was expected to comment Monday afternoon after a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi (HY’-dahr ahl ah-BAH’-dee) on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York.

An explosion Saturday night in New York City injured 29 people. FBI agents are also investigating the discovery Sunday of five devices in a backpack near a New Jersey train station.

 

8:25 a.m.

FBI agents are searching an apartment in New Jersey that is tied to a man wanted for questioning in the New York City bombing.

Ahmad Khan Rahami has lived at that address in Elizabeth, which is above a fried chicken store. The 28-year-old is a naturalized citizen from Afghanistan.

Authorities converged on the apartment early Monday after one of five devices found at the nearby Elizabeth train station exploded while a bomb squad robot attempted to disarm it.

No one was injured.

An explosion in Manhattan on Saturday injured 29 people. A pressure cooker device was also found blocks away, but it didn’t explode. Authorities were trying to determine if they were connected.

A pipe bomb also exploded Saturday in Seaside Park ahead of a charity race. No one was injured.

7 a.m.

FBI agents and police have converged on an apartment near a New Jersey train station where one of five devices found in a backpack exploded while a bomb squad robot was attempting to disarm it.

It wasn’t immediately clear if there was a connection between the dwelling and the blast at the Elizabeth train station at around 12:30 a.m. Monday.

Authorities converged on the apartment just before 6 a.m.

Two men had reported seeing wires and a pipe coming out of a package after finding it at the train station around 8:30 p.m. Sunday.

There were no reports of injuries.

New Jersey Transit trains resumed service along the Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast Line, but there are delays.

Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor service is operating on a modified schedule.

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6 a.m.

Commuter trains are resuming service after one of five devices found in a backpack near a New Jersey train station exploded while a bomb squad robot was attempting to disarm it.

New Jersey Transit says Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast Line trains began rolling at 5:30 a.m. Monday. However passengers should expect delays. Port Authority Trans-Hudson trains, ferries and buses are honoring those rail tickets.

Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor service is operating on a modified schedule. Elizabeth Mayor Christian Bollwage said the device exploded shortly after 12:30 a.m. Monday. The FBI was working to disarm the other four devices.

There were no reports of injuries.

Two men reported seeing wires and a pipe coming out of a package after finding it near the Elizabeth train station at around 8:30 p.m. Sunday.

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1:30 a.m.

A New Jersey mayor says one of five devices found in a backpack near a train station has exploded while a bomb squad robot was attempting to disarm it.

Elizabeth Mayor Christian Bollwage said that the device exploded shortly after 12:30 a.m. Monday. The FBI was leading the investigation and working to disarm the other four devices.

There were no reports of injuries. Bollwage said to expect more detonations.

Bollwage said two men called police and reported seeing wires and a pipe coming out of a package after finding it around 8:30 p.m. Sunday.

New Jersey Transit says service has been suspended between Newark Liberty Airport and Elizabeth. New York’s emergency management department says that New Jersey-bound Amtrak trains are being held at New York Penn Station.

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1 a.m.

There has been a loud explosion in the area of the scene of a police investigation of a suspicious device found near at New Jersey train station.

Reporters for NJ.com and NBC reported the blast shortly after 12:30 a.m. Monday.

Law enforcement had been examining a device near the Elizabeth train station.

Elizabeth Mayor Christian Bollwage says two men called police and reported seeing wires and a pipe coming out of the package after finding it at about 8:30 p.m. Sunday.

Bollwage says the Union County bomb squad’s robotic device indicated the package the men left near the train trestle could be a live bomb. He says the FBI and state police will decide how to remove the device. It wasn’t immediately known if the blast was part of a controlled explosion.

New Jersey Transit says service has been suspended between Newark Liberty Airport and Elizabeth. New York’s emergency management department says that New Jersey-bound Amtrak trains are being held at New York Penn Station.

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12:46 a.m.

Investigators are examining a suspicious device found in a trash can near a New Jersey train station, and service on the busy Northeast Corridor line has been suspended.

Elizabeth Mayor Christian Bollwage says two men called police and reported seeing wires and a pipe coming out of the package after finding it at about 9:30 p.m. Sunday.

Bollwage says the Union County bomb squad’s robotic device indicated the package the men left near the train trestle could be a live bomb. He says the FBI and state police will decide how to remove the device.

New Jersey Transit says service has been suspended between Newark Liberty Airport and Elizabeth. New York’s emergency management department says that New Jersey-bound Amtrak trains are being held at New York Penn Station.

A message left with the FBI wasn’t immediately returned.

The discovery of the suspicious package comes a day after an explosion in Manhattan injured 29 people, and an unexploded pressure-cooker device was found four blocks away.

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